Colocation Buying Guide

When IT leaders come to Host.net after deciding that Colocation is the next step for their companies, there are several steps through which we walk them. We have prepared a simple set of questions and answers in context with key factors, which assembled together, is used as a “Colocation Buying Guide.” In sum, this buying guide will help you to more accurately pinpoint your companies colocation needs so you are prepared to identify which colocation service is the perfect fit.

The time has come for your company to finally integrate a Colocation Solution to your IT Department and you’ve decided on colocation as a service for your company. Now what?

When IT leaders come to Host.netafter deciding that Colocation is the next step for their companies, there are several steps through which we walk them. We have prepared a simple set of questions and answers in context with key factors, which assembled together, is used as a “Colocation Buying Guide.” In sum, this buying guide will help you to more accurately pinpoint your companies colocation needs so you are prepared to identify which colocation service is the perfect fit.

1. Determine Your Size & IT Infrastructure

Take a look at the following company descriptions and set of questions to see where your company falls in the spectrum of company size and IT infrastructure. If you can answer, “yes” to most of the questions in one category, you likely fall in that category of data center needs.

Small to Medium Companies

We find that small to medium size growing companies begin to run out of room for IT equipment and do not have adequate space to expand their IT infrastructure. Do the followingquestions apply to you?

● Are your servers and equipment currently in a small room?
● Is there little space to add new equipment?
● Are you constrained with your power and cooling capacity?
● Are you lacking security?

Mid to Large Companies
If you are a mid to large size company and experiencing growth, you might be struggling to maintain your onsite data center and its reliability. You may have expanded your equipment and IT infrastructure over time, but you are reaching your maximum capacity. Do the following questions fit your company?

● Does your company use complex applications that require maximum availability?
● Is your data and data usage soaring?
● Is your space at its maximum capacity to expand?
● Is your building limited in its power and cooling capacity?
● Are you beginning to experience downtime?

Enterprise

For enterprise level companies, you might be facing the need to create a new space for and help to manage your growing IT infrastructure. Can you answer, “yes” to these questions?

● Is your IT department managing all applications, hardware, software, and planning?
● Do you own or rent a data center but are not seeing any ROI?
● Are you considering building your own data center?
● Is your IT department spending too much time managing its data center and not enough time on its business applications?
● Is your company facing operational disruptions when downtime occurs?

2. Determine Your Goals

Colocation is the lease of shared or private space within a provider’s data center that houses an organization’s IT infrastructure and communications equipment. If your companies IT goals are to have high performance power, a safe environment, the best possible uptime, reliability, and security while maintaining control over its own IT assets, colocation might help you meet your goals.

3. Define the ROI of Colocation

If your company is looking into colocation, the investment must make the most sense for your organization and its bottom line. Determine the potential ROI for your colocation investment, and consider the value of the following benefits of colocation to your company:

Now that you’ve narrowed down your company’s data center needs, goals, and potential ROI of colocation, you’re ready to narrow down colocation providers who offer the best possible solutions. Once you have your list of potential colocation providers, take the following steps:

● Schedule a tour of the colocation providers’ data center facilities.
● Make a direct comparison sheet based on your needs and goals.
● Speak to people within different levels of the colocation provider (technicians, executives, managers, etc.).
● Have a set of questions to ask each provider and compare responses.

Host.net can assist you throughout your colocation buying process. We are a hands-on company with amultitude of customizable colocation solutions. We take great pride in working with each of our potential clients to ensure a world-class experience with our team of experts who can provide the most advanced technology and data center facilities. Give us a call today at (561) 869-6100 or email us hereso we can begin consulting with you what your needs are for Colocation with unparalleled customer service to meet your company’s present and future needs.

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Host.net is a multinational cloud company offering managed infrastructure services. Specializing in colocation and network transport and transit solutions for enterprise organizations, the company custom designs total solutions tailored to the needs of its clients. Read more